HealthCare >> Diseases & Conditions >> Hypertension ( High Blood Pressure )

What are the effects of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure has its main effects on the Nervous system, the Kidneys and the Eyes.
The nervous system: headache, dizziness, stroke, vertigo, tinnitus ( ringing in the ears).
Kidneys: hypertension can lead to kidney failure.
Eyes: long-standing high blood pressure can lead to defects of vision, bleeding in the retina of the eye, and eventually blindness.

How is high blood pressure treated?
There are generally two elements in the management of hypertension, lifestyle changes and drugs.
Lifestyle changes:

• Relief of stress: stress has been long associated with high blood pressure and a lot of studies have shown that relief of stress brings about a considerable improvement in the blood pressure.
  Various techniques of stress reduction include techniques like Biofeedback and Transcendental Meditation.
• Diet: the importance of diet can’t be overstressed !
  - Salt restriction: salt reduction potentiates the effect of all anti-hypertensive medications. A simple technique is not to add any table salt to the food.
  - Calorie restriction: saturated fats and cholesterol intake should be reduced to as little as possible.
• Regular exercise: is very helpful in reducing high blood pressure. It helps in reducing stress as well, in fact exercise is recognized as a very good stress buster. A few things about exercise are important – always exercise within your ‘cardiovascular limits’ meaning thereby, that exercise only as much as your heart and circulation can keep pace with, don’t be too vigorous right from the outset.
  Isotonic exercises like jogging and swimming are better than isometric exercises like weight training, which actually may increase hypertension.
• Smoking: giving up smoking is one of the most significant lifestyle changes which can favorably affect the blood pressure.

Drugs:

Many effective medications for the control of blood pressure are available these days. These medications belong to different classes. Each class acts in a different way to lower the pressure. These drugs alone or in various combinations are effective for a wide variety of patient profiles. Following are the more commonly used anti hypertensives.

Diuretics: are the drugs, which induce urination. These are also called "water pills," and are commonly used to treat mild hypertension. Diuretics increase urination and lower blood pressure by decreasing blood volume and by dilating the arteries. Diuretics are frequently combined with other anti- hypertensive medications to achieve blood pressure control. Examples of diuretics include hydrochlorothiazide (HYDRODYURIL and (LASIX) FUROSEMIDE).

Beta-blockers: act by decreasing the force of heart contraction, thereby reducing the pressure that the heart generates in our arteries. Common side effects include depression, fatigue, nightmares, and difficulty obtaining an erection (impotence). Examples of commonly used beta-blockers include atenolol (TENORMIN) and propranolol (INDERAL).

The Calcium channel blockers: lower blood pressure by decreasing the force of heart contraction and by relaxing the muscle walls of the arteries. Side effects include fatigue, ankle swelling, flushing, headache, and constipation. Examples of calcium channel blockers are verapamil (ISOPTIN), diltiazem (CARDIZEM), nifedipine (MYOGUARD).

The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: are the newest class of drugs. These are the most commonly used first line drugs in the treatment of high blood pressure these days. They prevent the production of a chemical (angiotensin II), which is a potent constrictor of blood vessels. As the vessels relax, blood pressure decreases. These medications include captopril (CAPOTEN, enalapril (ENVAS),), and lisinopril (ZESTRIL). Side effects include, a dry cough that disappears when the medication is discontinued and an increase in the level of potassium in the blood.

Things to Remember:

• High Blood Pressure very common condition.It may not make you feel sick, but it is serious and should be treated by a doctor.
• A controlled blood pressure decreases the risk of complications like Stroke and Kidney problems.
• You can bring down your blood pressure with changes in diet and daily habits and by taking medicines if necessary.
• Losing weight, cutting down on salt and alcohol, and getting regular exercise may be helpful, but only as suggested by your doctor. Do not assume these are substitutes for medicine unless your doctor says they are.
• Take your medicine at the same time each day, for example, in the morning or evening after brushing teeth-to help set a regular, easy-to-remember routine.